Church=Family

We have been here a little over a month. Now let me be real for a second. I have had several break down moments over the last few weeks about being out here: the heat, the purpose behind being out here,  missing everything about the Springs, my family etc. I thought moving out here would mean escaping the old and starting something new. In ways we have started something new, but Christ has this perfect way of allowing us to face the "stuff"in order to grow and move forward. HA! I feel like moving out here my fears and insecurities were brought to the surface and I had to process. Which process is NEVER easy, it is not comfortable, it sucks, but it's how we grow.  As I look back over these last few weeks I am brought to tears at how faithful God is.  Before moving out here God gave me a prophetic dream. In the dream we were moving out to Redding and throughout the entire moving process we were always surrounded by people. When I woke up from the dream the Lord spoke to me and said we would have community around us every step of the way.

Before leaving the Springs Andrew and I got so connected to a small group of people. We would meet every Sunday afternoon in a little house off of Yampa St. We would fellowship, worship, and just encourage one another. I have never been so impacted by such a group of authentic and real people. It was most definitely difficult leaving such an incredible group who did church so well. Being alone was my biggest fears, not having anyone and not knowing anyone out here. God has literally provided relationships galore since our very first day out here. Last weekend we had 5 people over to our apartment for a pie and movie night. As our friends left after the movie I just sat there telling Andrew we hadn't even been here a month and we are already opening our home up to people!!! This is just one example of how God has completely and UTTERLY surrounded us with community out here.

Alright so some of you saw the photo that I posted a week or so ago on Facebook and Instagram of Andrew co-leading worship for a church. Holy crap. Ha! What a whole other can of goodness. So one of the main reasons we moved out here was because we both see ourselves serving and working for a church. Maybe, possibly, even starting one of our own one day. A church that does not really look like the 21st century church but more like the church of Acts.

Along with his passion and desire for worship, more than anything Andrew has such a heart for the bride of Christ and people, like I have never seen in anyone. As for me, the way I adore expressing worship to the Lord is through dance. There is so much packed into that sentence. Because I feel called to call people into worship and social awareness through my dance.

So back to why we are out here? Well, we both don't really understand the fullness of it yet.  Anywhoo, we had heard about the Stirring (a church out here) through several different people. Andrew ended up getting into contact with the Worship pastor and the second week we were out here we went to one of the services. I cannot explain in words on a blog the way I felt that first Sunday walking in. It has been so very long since I have been in a church where I felt a sense of belonging, of community,  and a part of a family. To make a long story short the worship pastor met up with Andrew that second week for coffee and really connected....So some of you are thinking "Well what about Bethel?!" "I mean gosh isn't that Why you moved out there?" Yes we did move out here for Bethel. In fact we are still attending Bethel as much as we can on Friday and Sunday nights to get some of culture etc. But we both feel like the Stirring is like our home away from home. The place where we feel "a part of the family".

I am consistently overwhelmed by the way "church" is done out here. I feel like Holy spirit is doing something so new and so fresh. The churches out here are no where near perfect don't get me wrong, but by what I can tell they encourage, honor, and work together. There's not really a competitiveness. It is different. I never really understood the several sects/denominations the church has. We all believe there is a Savior right? Why Are we not working together? Unity does not mean conformity. We all have something to give. There is nothing more beautiful, in my opinion, than churches coming together and working together. Im done ranting  =)

In closing:
 YAMPA fam-We miss all of you so so SOOOOOOO Much x100000000. Thank you all for showing us that Church is more than just a building, more than a person, a rock band, that church is about Christ and a community that strives to do life together. Food and Fire =) Love you all!

Bethany


http://thestirring.org

Heat + Heat + more Heat=1st week in Redding

Hello All!

So I thought this would be the best way to keep all of you updated on Andrew and I's adventure/s in CA. I have never had a blog before, soooo a lot of this is so new for me. Sorry ahead of time if I have tons of grammatical errors etc. I will try my best!

So our first week. Hmmm the only thing I can think of is the heat and how to stay cool in the 100+ degree weather here. Not sure how girls here wear their hair down or wear jeans for that matter. The heat is so bad my hair only comes down when I am inside of an air conditioned house/establishment. As far as my pants/leggings they will not be making an appearance till fall/winter. Dresses and shorts it will be for the next several months!

Thank you all for letting me vent:)

We pulled in a little over a week ago, tired and exhausted from the last month and a half of traveling, But we finally made it! Fivel was never found (not sure if that was a good thing, but regardless I made sure Andrew shook out every shoe I owned on the balcony just in case). I think it has really begun to hit the both of us that we know no one out here.We have however, met some incredible ladies in moving here that have helped us TREMENDOUSLY!  I think that, that is the beauty and the craziness of trusting God. He provides. Somehow, 4 girls and Andrew moved all of our furniture to our apartment, on the 2nd floor. How that happened was a miracle in and of itself.

Needless to say it has been overwhelming and utterly humbling to realize that we now are members of Bethel church. We witnessed so many miracles the first Friday night service we went to. We even got the chance to pray over a girl whom had cysts on her ovaries and terrible pain on her spine. The healing rooms director just instructed us to pray the most simple, childlike prayer over the people who needed healing and boom this girl's pain instantly went away!!!!!! Already it has been such a blessing to be a part of a church that empowers and encourages encounters with Jesus, the miraculous and the arts.

Sunday we joined a small group called fire starters. It is basically a 12 week curriculum that goes through Bethel's beliefs and culture. Sunday they taught on prophecy and how God wants to speak through us to others to encourage. We all got to practice prophesying over our table leaders, it was so great.

Throughout this entire last month I have been jobless. Yes, I no longer work for Old Navy. Sad, I know, but God completely and utterly slammed that door shut and had something different in mind. Andrew and I have never had to trust God with our finances. We have always had dependable jobs and have always lived below our means. So not having a job was difficult for the both of us. Sunday, during worship, I felt the Lord say "your job is coming, just waite" and a peace just rushed over me. Monday morning I got a call from one of the Starbucks in town (that I had applied for several weeks before) wanting to interview me the very next day. Tuesday morning I went in and by 3:00pm that day the manager called me back saying that I was hired!!!!!!!!! God is so so SO good!!!!!!

Andrew and I have no idea what God has for us out here. Sometimes it has been so hard realizing that we left everything and everyone we knew. It is in those moments that God comes and wraps us in his comfort and peace and reassures that HE is leading us.

So in closing:
Trust in the Lord with your Whole heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all of your ways acknowledge him
And he will make your path straight.
Prov 3:5-6

Hope